228 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



BECENT LITEKATUEE. 



A Study in Insect Parasitism : a Consideration of the Parasites of the 

 White-marked Tussock Moth, with an Account of their Habits and 

 Interrelations, and ivith Descriptions of New Species. By L. 0. 

 Howard. 58 pp., illustrated. Washington. 1897. 



The host referred to in this interesting pamphlet is Orgyia leuco- 

 stvjma, a very close ally of 0. antiqua, which in the United States is 

 destructive to shade trees in cities. The author points out that, after 

 the introduction of the English sparrow into the States, the Orrpjia 

 became more numerous, whilst " cankerworms," which had previously 

 been the chief destroyers of the foliage of shade trees, were practically 

 exterminated. In 1895 the Orgyia increased to an alarming extent in 

 the city of Washington, and the author was afforded an opportunity 

 of investigating its life-history, more especially with regard to the 

 " prominent part which parasites take in the reduction of an insect 

 which under favourable conditions has exceeded its normal bounds in 

 respect to numbers." That the parasites, chiefly Pimpla inquisitor and 

 Chalcis ovata, were doing good service is shown from the fact that at 

 the end of August and early part of September in the year mentioned, 

 when the Orgyia larvns wei*e most abundant, "it was an exception 

 to find a healthy caterpillar which one of the parasites was not engaged 

 in stinging. The rearings which were undertaken at this time show 

 parasitism of perhaps 90 per cent, of the caterpillars." In June, 1896, 

 *' it was a very difficult matter to find enough living individuals to 

 carry on rearing-cage experiments at the very points where they had 

 been present the previous year by thousands and thousands," and the 

 parasitism had reached to something above 98 per cent. 



There are twenty-four original illustrations in the text. 



Harrow Butterflies and Moths. Vol. II. By J. L. Bontrote, M.B.O.U., 

 and Hon. M. C. RoTHscmLD, F.E.S., F.Z.S. Pp. i-x, 1-112. 

 Harrow : J. C. Wilbee. 1897. 



Continues the list of Lepidoptera occurring in the Harrow district 

 from Uropterygidae to Alucitidte. In the present volume there are 

 introductory notes to some of the families and genera. There is also 

 a supplement to Vol. I., containing additions and corrections ; alto- 

 gether 469 species are noticed as occurring, or having occurred, in the 

 area dealt with. 



Obituary. — We learn with regret that Mr. John Finlay, of Morpeth, 

 died on July 4th last, at the age of sixty-one years. His interest in 

 entomology was chiefly confined to Lepidoptera, of which ordier he had 

 formed a fine collection. For upwards of thirty years he had occupied 

 the post of head gardener at Meldou Park. 



